Two elderly women have died and two others have been seriously injured after a crash on a busy road.

Two elderly victims of a car accident were named by police today.

Passengers Sheena Armstrong, 71, Margaret Lumsden, 78, were being driven by their husbands on the A9 Perth to Inverness road when their two vehicles collided.

The smash happened at around 3.50pm around half a mile north of Faskally in Perthshire.

Mrs Armstrong, from Edinburgh, died at the scene. Her 77-year-old husband is being treated at Ninewells Hospital for abdominal injuries.

Mrs Lumsden, from East Whitburn, was taken to hospital by air ambulance but died a short time later. Her 79-year-old husband is in a critical conditions at Ninewells.

Tayside Police said that the driver and passengers of a large white coach that passed by the scene immediately after the collision may have information that could help with the crash investigation.

They also appealed to the occupants of three cars seen in the area at the time.

A spokesman said: "We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision to contact the force as they may have information that is useful to inquiries."